Hoarding in Enfield
Hoarding is the excessive collection and retention of any material - to the point that living space is not able to be used for its intended purpose. This can include collecting specific items (such as books) or even animals (often displaying a lack of ability to provide the animals with basic care). The NHS summarises the problem well: "A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner. The items can be of little or no monetary value and usually result in unmanageable amounts of clutter."
Hoarding can also be a symptom of other medical disorders; it is not a lifestyle choice.
People who hoard can often feel very isolated and reluctant to talk to people about their home environment. Although people have the right to privacy and to decide how they live; it may be that there are risks and environmental health issues around hoarded properties and people living there need help to cope.
The Clutter Image Rating Index
The seriousness of hoarding is often judged by using the Clutter Image rating index – this uses images of different rooms to show how big the risk might be and is a more objective measure then saying a home is simply ‘cluttered’. Professionals should always try to use the Clutter Image Rating index when making reports.
Fire Safety in the Home
Fire safety suggestions
If you know or care for someone who lives in home that has become hoarded, you can help them live more safely by:
- Encouraging them not light candles or tea lights of any kind. A safer option is to use LED flameless candles.
- Ensuring they have appropriate heating so that they are not using portable heaters, candles or gas hobs to heat the home. If using portable heaters, ensuring that items aren't placed on top of, or too close to them.
- Suggest – or if you can, make sure – that they smoke outside if they are a smoker, never smoking in bed or where they could fall asleep, and that they use proper ashtrays.
- Contacting the Local Authority to discuss options for support to clear some of the clutter.
- Work with them to develop an escape plan.
- Book a home fire safety visit – a free service we offer to share advice and help.
Getting help with Hoarding for yourself or someone else
If you are worried about your health or mental health around a potential Hoarding disorder, please do reach out to your GP for support around this.
You can also seek support from Adult Social Care via requesting an assessment of your needs by either using the online portal here or calling 020 8379 1001 to speak to the Connect Team.
If you feel that safeguarding support is required then you can refer online here or via calling the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub on 020 8379 3196 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Please do contact London Fire Brigade on the links above if you need Fire Safety Advice.
Other agencies that can provide support are:
020 8379 1000 | |
020 3239 1600 | |
020 8375 4120 | |
020 8367 0921 | |
020 8366 3677 |
The Enfield Hoarding Panel
Enfield Adult Social Care and London Fire Brigade run a monthly panel – attended by Enfield Housing, Enfield Environmental Health and Mental Health Services – to support people who may hoard in Enfield. If you are a professional who is interested in referring to this panel, please email safeguardingadults@enfield.gov.uk and a referral form will be sent to you.
If you are a member of the public, please begin by referring to Adult Social Care.